10 years of wax-free poultry packaging

International Paper, provider of corrugated packaging solutions for the poultry industry, celebrates the 10th anniversary of its wax-free, 100% recyclable poultry box.

To date, the company has produced over 1 bln wax-free poultry boxes – a box that is recyclable with old corrugated containers (OCC) and repulpable.

International Paper’s wax-free packaging line was developed in the late 1990s to help meet the sustainability needs of its poultry customers. Poultry suppliers were challenged by their customer base to improve the total sustainability performance of their products and the packaging they are transported in, leading to the need for a more environmentally-friendly package. International Paper’s wax-free packaging was the result of working together with poultry processors to provide a sustainable packaging solution.

“Our innovation team members searched the coating industry for a cost-effective, wax alternative for Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) applications. The new coating had to have functionally equivalent properties to wax, be fully recyclable and repulpable, FDA approved for food contact and printable,” said Jimmy Fielding, International Paper poultry segment business manager.

“The materials in our poultry packaging product line are matched to the packaging system needs of our processors and their customers. Other benefits to this product are lower sorting and waste hauling expenses and increased OCC revenue for the retailer and an overall smaller environmental footprint,” Fielding continues.